Apparatus for moistening shoes



Aug. 11, 1931. K. E. CARLSON 1,

APPARATUS FOR MOISTENING SHOES Filed Dec. 15,1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 KZ. ir 3. 1 J0 Aug. 11, 1931. K. E. CARLSON APPARATUS FOR MOISTENING SHOES Filed Dec. 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm a. wvww bodyinglthe present invention; 1

. to the end that the toe portion might be Patented Aug. 11, 1931 fxnurn E. c aLsoN, OF cAmrnLto, :MAssAcIius'E'r'rs ArPAnA'rUs Eon mo isrnninefsnons Application filed December 13, 1929. S eria111'o; 413;784.' i

. This invention relates to apparatus for moistening shoes during their manufacture.

()ne object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus of the character specified with which the heel portions of a shoe may be conveniently and efficiently moistened during the manufacture of the shoe to facilitate the production of smooth, neat and nice appearing counters or heel portions of the shoes. p 1

A further. object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the character specifled-which has provision for simultaneously moistening both the toe. and heel portions of one or more shoes so that both such portions may bemade smoth, free from wrinkles, and of a highly attractive appearance, in an 'eflicient, simple and practical manner.

With these objects in view, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the apparatus for moistening shoes and: in the structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claim at the end of this specification.

'In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention 7 Fig; 1 is a plan view of the apparatus em- Fig. 2 a front side elevation of the apparatus shown inFig. 1, and

.Fig. 3 an enlarged cross-section taken the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

The present apparatus is an improvement on the apparatus for moistening'toe pieces of shoes forming the subject-matter of the patent to Carlson, et al. No. 1,130,374 March 2, 1915. In such prior apparatus, provision was made for operatively supporting the shoe with the toe portion exposed to steam moistened and rendered workable and in a condition in which it might be effectively applied in a smooth condition to the toe of the last in a minimum time and with minimum ing the heel'portions. of the shoe by exposing; the same to steam to. thereby render the heel. portions and particularly the countersmore workable, thus facilitating the production of. shoes "havingv smooth, neat and attractive counters and heel'portions. paratus enables more 'inexpensiveleathers to; be employed in the production of such parts of the shoe than has heretofore been possible and at the some time enables as neat and attractive heel and counter portions to be pro- The present apduced as with the more expensive and more. easily worked leathers. In its preferred form the. invention contemplates a ,shoe-' moistenlng apparatus'which has provision for. effecting the simultaneous moistenlng of both the heel and toe portions of theshoe.

'Referring to the drawings, in the illusber provided with an opening 12 in the front wall thereof through which the toe portion or portions of one or more shoes supported upon supporting members 20 are extended into the steam chamber to be subjected to the moistening effect of steam. The steam chamber 10 may and preferably will be'constructed indetail as shown in the Carlson Patent No. 1,130,374 to which reference is made for details of construction not herein illustrated. The apparatus is also provided with a steam chamber 15 having curved pore tions16 of the general-shape of the heelof a'l .trated apparatus 10 represents a steamr'cham- I shoe and such curved portions 16 are provid ed with'a series of small holes or perforations 18 through which steam may pass from thechamber 15 and be thereby'directed against the heel or counter portions of the shoe.-v The shoe is operatively; supported I during the moistening operation in the position illustrated in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 upon asupport comprising a wire 20 bentvinto the shjapeillustrated in Fig. 1 and having its ends pivotally supported in lugs, one ofwhich is shown at 22 in Fig.1. The wire20 is operatively supported in a substantially horizontal position by strut members 24, the ends of which are removably re-' ceived'in brackets 26 attached to the front.

wall of the steam chamber 10. The support 20 is; arranged to position the toe and 'heel' of the shoe extends through the opening 12 in the front wall of the steam chamber l O.

and the heel portion of the shoe is ositioned within the curved section 16 V of the steam chamber 15 to thereby enable both the toe and heel portions of both shoes to be simul-' taneously moistened by exposure to steam. 1

Steam may and preferably will besupplied to the apparatus from any convenient-source 1s by the steam line and through the inlet pipe 32leadin g to the steam chamber 10 near the bottom thereof. The supply of steam to the chamber 10 may and preferably will be controlled by a valve 34. As hereinshown, iteam is supplied toithe steam chamber 15 through the pipes-36 leading from'the pipe 30 and through the pipe 37. leading into the steam chamber 15 near the bottom thereof,

as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. The supply of steam to the chamber. 15 may. and preferably will be controlled steam line 37. v 1 i The condensate from'the steam chamber 10 and the other detailsofconstructibn of the chamber 10 may and preferably Will'com'prise those illustrated in'the aforesaid Carlson Patent No; 1,130,374 to Which. reference may be had for further description thereof. I

"The excess condensate within the steam chamber 15 above the level of the overflow pipe 44 is returned through the pipe 44 and pipe line 45 into the general outlet pipe 40 leading from the steam chamber 10.

The steam chamber 15 may and preferably will be provided with a perforated diaphragm 48 positioned as illustrated in Fig.3 to pro-v vide a battle and prevent the entrainment of Water with the steam into the upper section of the steam chamber and to thereby reduce to a minimum the excessive escape of water through the spray holes 18 so that the moist ening action may be effected by steam alone and the most desirable effects in: softening and rendering the counter or heel portions work of condensed steam down over the counters. Both the steam chamberslO and 15 are.

operatively supported in a metal supporting by a valve' 38' in the" framework indicated generally at 53 to form a unitary apparatus which may be transported and set up in a simple and convenient manner.

As used throughout the specification, the word shoe is intended to include both boots and shoes. v v U WVhile the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described it will be understood that the inventiodmay be embbdiedin'other forms within the scope of the ,following claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed 1 1. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a supportfor a'shoe, a steam chamber provided with aicurved portion an' inlet for admitting steam to the steam chamber,an outlet for removing the Water of condensation froin the steam chamber, a" plurality'of small perforations in said curved portion'. through which the steam may pass to be' dire cted against the shoeheeh' and a per forated partition in the chamber located below sald perforations for preventing the en'- trainment of Water wlth the steain 2. In apparatus of the character describ'd,-

in combinationya supportfora shoe,a steam chamber provided witha curved portion, an"

inletflfor admitting steam to" the steam" chain her, an outlet for removing the'water of conde'nsation from the steam chamber, perforations in saidncurved portion throughfwhich' the steam may pass'to be directed against'the shoeheel; a perforated partition in theeh'amber located below said perforations, and a gutter member upon the outer wall of said cur'veclportion. e V

3. In apparatus of the character describ'ed, in combination, a steam chamber provided with a curved portion adapted to fitaround the heel of a shoe,-'nieans for adinitting steam to the" chamber, perforations in the curved portion for directing steam against the shoe heel, a gutter member upon the outer wall" of the curved portion, and a support for operatively positioning a shoe with respect to the steam chamber. f

"In testimony whereof; I have signed my name to' this Specification; 7 A KNUTE E. CARLSON. 

